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The chemical composition and ion energy distribution of the atmosphere are studied by circling spacecraft using plasma sensors, also known as retarding potential analyzers (RPAs). Hardware that was laser-cut and 3D-printed functioned just as well as modern semiconductor plasma sensors.
The global 3D – printed plasma sensors market accounted for $XX Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030.
A team of MIT scientists has discovered a technique to reduce some expenditures, which could hasten the study of climate change. The group has created the first 3D-printed plasma sensors for use in satellites, according to MIT. The sensors can identify the ion energy distribution and chemical make-up of plasma in the high atmosphere.
The sensors, also known as retarding potential analyzers, were created by the researchers using a printable glass-ceramic material called Vitrolite (RPAs). It is claimed to be more resilient than other materials, like silicon and thin-film coatings, that are frequently employed in sensors.Hardware that was laser-cut and D-printed performed just as well as modern semiconductor plasma sensors. The production of semiconductor plasma sensors takes weeks and requires a cleanroom during the manufacturing process, which is expensive. These 3D-printed sensors, however, may be made in a couple of days for tens of dollars.
The new sensors are perfect for CubeSats because they are inexpensive and produced quickly. These lightweight, low-cost satellites are frequently employed for environmental monitoring and communication in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The scientists constructed complex-shaped sensors through 3D printing that, according to MIT, can “withstand the enormous temperature changes a spacecraft would encounter in lower Earth orbit.”
